Teeth whitening has become a huge trend in recent years both in-salon and at home treatments. In-salon treatments can be expensive but fortunately there are plenty of options for those looking for remove stains and whiten their teeth at home.
Why are people whitening their teeth?
According to dentist Dr Amit Rai, social media is largely responsible for the trend of white teeth.
“Tooth whitening has become increasingly popular, as some patients strive for Instagram perfection,” he says.
“White teeth are in fashion, I mean almost no one would choose to have a darker shade of teeth if they were given the choice.” Plus, who wouldn’t want to emulate celebrities and their megawatt smiles?
“Most celebrities have bright white teeth, but one which none of my patients try to emulate is Simon Cowell,” says Dr Rai. “In my opinion, that’s a little too white!”
But what if you don’t have an A-list budget for brightening your smile? DIY kits can be effective, but there are a few pointers you need to know before you get started.
Top teeth whitening tips
Here, Dr Rai shares his five dos and don’ts of at-home teeth whitening…
1. Don’t believe viral hacks
“As you can imagine, I have heard all sorts of tooth-whitening hacks, ranging from the use of banana peel to the use of coconut oil.
“The most unusual has to be a patient who swears by the use of rubbing their toothbrush over a piece of coal before brushing their teeth! In all seriousness, some of the methods can be dangerous and potentially damaging, such as the use of domestic toilet bleach.”
2. Don’t use kitchen ingredients
“I’ve heard a lot about oil pulling to help remove plaque, but it does not whiten teeth any more than brushing twice daily.
“Bicarbonate of soda may do a fabulous job of lifting stains from the tooth surface, but it is very abrasive to the precious outer enamel layer of your teeth, leaving the yellower underlying dentine visible.
“Once your enamel is gone, it’s gone, so be careful.”
3. Don’t trust quick tricks
“Beware of blue light whitening conducted by non-dentists in shopping centres and exhibitions.
“This involves keeping your mouth open, which dehydrates your teeth, making them appear whiter. These methods may appear cheap and quick, but they aren’t effective in the long term.”
4. Do choose a reputable retailer
“At-home whitening is generally effective, and naturally there are different formulations, some of which are safer than others.
“It is best to stick to clinically-effective products sold by reputable sellers, such as Boots (i.e. not from eBay or Instagram).”
5. Do maintain your dental health – and beware of staining
“Brushing twice daily, not smoking and regularly visiting your dentist and/or hygienist are all a must for maintaining a whiter smile, but it is also true that some types of food and drink can stain your teeth.
“Confusingly, however, they give you other health benefits, so you may not necessarily want to cut all of them out of your diet altogether.
“Tea and coffee both contain tannins, which cause staining, particularly when drunk without milk. Red wine is one of the most common causes of tooth staining.”
Bright ideas: 3 at-home whitening options
Rapid White 1 Week Power Teeth Whitening Set, £15, Boots
Superdrug Procare Teeth Whitening Strips, £14.99
Billion Dollar Smile USB Teeth Whitening Kit, £59.99, Superdrug
You may also be interested in…
This article may include affiliate links to products and services where we may receive a small fee to support the running of this site if you make a purchase or is a sponsored article from one of our select editorial partners providing valuable advice and information to our readers.
